Beta-mannanase from coffee berry borer, hypothenemus hampei, and uses thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an isolated β-mannanase protein having an amino acid sequence which is 90% similar to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, as well as isolated polynucleotides encoding the β-mannanase protein, and isolated expression systems and host cells containing the polynucleotides. The present invention also relates to a method of recombinantly producing β-mannanase protein. Also disclosed is a method of degrading mannans and polysaccharides in plant material, which involves providing plant material and contacting the plant material with the β-mannanase protein of the present invention under conditions effective to degrade mannans and polysaccharides in the plant material.

This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/943,015, filed Nov. 20, 2007, which claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/866,705, filed Nov. 21, 2006, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an isolated β-mannanase protein and uses thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mannanases are enzymes that hydrolyze mannans and related hemicellulosic polysaccharides, such as galactomannan and glucogalactomannan (also termed galactoglucomannan). These polysaccharides are characteristic components of plant cell walls and, so, an important potential commercial use of mannanases is in the degradation of hemicellulosic materials from plant biomass, thus providing a means to recover soluble sugars from these biopolymers. Mannan polysaccharides are also found as storage polymers in the seeds of some plant species, such as those of leguminous plants, and coniferous trees.

In coffee bean, galactomannans accumulate to extremely high concentrations and represent approximately 24% of the dry weight of the bean (Bradbury et al., “Chemical Structures of Green Coffee Bean Polysaccharides,” J. Agric. Food Chem. 38:389-392 (1990)). These polysaccharides consist of a linear chain of mannosyl residues that are linked to each other via beta 1,4 glycosyl linkages, to which are attached alpha-galactosyl residue monomers. It is known that endo-beta-mannanases (EC 3.2.1.78) hydrolyze mannan polymers during seed germination, thus facilitating the exit of the rootlet during germination and releasing small oligosaccharides which are then used as a source of energy for the growth of the young plant. Indeed, in several plants, it has been shown that endo-β-mannanase activity is mainly detected in the endosperm of seeds undergoing germination (Bewley, “Breaking Down the Walls—A Role for Endo-β-Mannanase In Release from Seed Dormancy?” Trends Plant Sci. 2:464-469 (1997)).

Mannanases are produced by microorganisms such as molds, yeasts, and fungi, as well as Bacillus subtilis, Aeromonas, Enterococcus, Pseudomonas, and Streptomyces. Some higher plants or animals can also produce mannanases; however, no report exists in the literature describing a β-mannanase from insects. Microorganisms that are typically used for commercial production of mannanases include Trichoderma or Aspergillus spp.

In industrial processes, during the treatment of coffee, mannans and their derivatives constitute a considerable portion of the insoluble sediments. In addition, during the first extraction step in coffee production only approximately 50% of the mannans are soluble and these polymers are therefore responsible for the majority of the secondary precipitations which occur during the subsequent steps. European Patent No. 0676145A demonstrated that it is possible to hydrolyse coffee galactomannans using an immobilized mannanase extracted from Aspergillus niger.

The present invention is directed to overcoming these and other limitations in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is directed to an isolated β-mannanase protein having an amino acid sequence which is 90% similar to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. The present invention also relates to an isolated polynucleotide encoding the β-mannanase protein, and an isolated expression system and host cell containing the polynucleotide.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of recombinantly producing β-mannanase protein. This method involves providing a host cell containing the polynucleotide of the present invention and culturing the host cell under conditions effective for the host cell to express β-mannanase protein. The β-mannanase protein is recovered.

A further aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of degrading mannans and polysaccharides in plant material. This method involves providing plant material and contacting the plant material with the β-mannanase protein of the present invention under conditions effective to degrade mannans and polysaccharides in the plant material.

The present invention relates to an isolated polynucleotide sequence which encodes a mannanase enzyme involved in the hydrolysis of mannan polysaccharides, including unbranched or branched mannan molecules linked to each other via a beta 1,4 glycosyl linkage. The polynucleotide is isolated from an insect (coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei) genome.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a photograph showing SDS-PAGE analysis of the recombinant β-mannanase protein according to one embodiment of the present invention expressed in recombinant baculovirus. Lane 1: molecular mass markers (kDa); Lane 2: Speed-vac concentrated protein; Lane 3: 6×-His tagged mannanase purified using paramagnetic particles.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing time course of AZC-galactomannan hydrolysis with soluble recombinant β-mannanase from H. hampei. Enzymatic activity was determined by blue color increase of absorbance across time. 3-mannanase activity is mean±SE for three reactions.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the effect of pH on the activity of recombinant β-mannanase from H. hampei, according to the present invention. The buffer was 200 mM sodium acetate pH 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, and 11.0.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the effect of temperature on the activity of the recombinant β-mannanase from H. hampei. Enzyme solutions in 200 mM sodium acetate buffer pH 5.0 were incubated at various temperatures for 120 minutes and the activities were measured as described in the Examples (infra).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention relates to an isolated β-mannanase protein from coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, as follows:

Met Thr Ala Asp Thr Leu Thr Arg Ala Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu 1               5                   10                  15 Arg Ala Ala Ala Ala Val Pro Gly Phe Thr Val Ser Gly Thr Arg Ile             20                  25                  30 Leu Asp Ala Asn Gly Gln Glu Phe Met Ile Arg Gly Val Ser His Ala         35                  40                  45 His Thr Trp Tyr Lys Asp Asp Ile Asn Gly Ala Ile Thr Ser Ile Ala     50                  55                  60 Ala Ala Gly Ala Asn Thr Val Arg Ile Val Leu Ser Asn Gly Gly Gln 65                  70                  75                  80 Trp Thr Lys Asp Asn Leu Asp Ser Val Gln Asn Ile Leu Ser Leu Cys                 85                  90                  95 Glu Ser His Lys Leu Ile Ala Met Leu Glu Val His Asp Ala Thr Gly             100                 105                 110 Asn Asp Ser Gln Glu Thr Leu Glu Asn Ala Val Asn Tyr Trp Lys Glu         115                 120                 125 Leu Arg Asp Leu Leu Ile Gly Lys Glu Asp Arg Val Ile Ile Asn Ile     130                 135                 140 Ala Asn Glu Trp Phe Gly Thr Trp Asp Thr Ala Gly Trp Ala Asp Gly 145                 150                 155                 160 Tyr Lys Val Val Ile Pro Glu Leu Arg Asn Ala Gly Leu Glu His Leu                 165                 170                 175 Leu Val Val Asp Thr Ala Gly Tyr Gly Gln Tyr Pro Gln Ala Ile Phe             180                 185                 190 Glu Lys Gly Lys Glu Val Phe Gln Thr Asp Leu Leu Ala Arg Thr Val         195                 200                 205 Phe Ser Ile His Met Tyr Glu Tyr Ala Ala Thr Asp Val Thr Met Ile     210                 215                 220 Lys Gly Asn Ile Asp Ser Ala Leu Asn Thr Gly Ile Pro Val Ile Ile 225                 230                 235                 240 Gly Glu Phe Gly Asp Arg Lys Pro Glu Ser Gln His Val Asp Ile Asp                 245                 250                 255 Thr Ile Met Ser Tyr Thr Arg Glu Lys Ser Val Gly Trp Leu Ala Trp             260                 265                 270 Ser Trp Tyr Gly Asn Gly Asn Asp Glu Ser Ile Leu Asp Leu Thr Asn         275                 280                 285 Gly Pro Ser Gly Asp Tyr Ser Leu Thr Asn Val Gly Ser Gln Ile Val     290                 295                 300 Asp Ser Glu Asn Gly Ile Arg Lys Thr Ser Thr Ile Cys Ser Ile Phe 305                 310                 315                 320 Asn

The present invention is also directed to isolated β-mannanase proteins having an amino acid sequence which is at least 90% similar, at least 91% similar, at least 92% similar, at least 93% similar, at least 94% similar, at least 95% similar, at least 96% similar, at least 97% similar, at least 98% similar, and/or at least 99% similar to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.

The polynucleotide encoding the β-mannanase protein of SEQ ID NO:1 has a sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, as follows:

gctgatcggg tgtgtactca attctttaag gagtttacaa tatgaccgct gatacattaa   60 cgcgggcact gctgctgttg ctgttgttgc gcgctgctgc tgctgtaccc ggattcacgg  120 tttccggtac tcgaatttta gatgctaacg gtcaggaatt tatgataaga ggggtcagtc  180 acgcacatac ctggtataag gatgatatta atggggccat cacatccatc gctgctgctg  240 gcgccaacac ggttcgcatt gtactttcta atggcggaca gtggacaaaa gacaacctgg  300 attcagttca gaacattctg tccctctgtg agagccataa gcttattgcc atgctggaag  360 ttcacgatgc caccggcaat gacagccaag aaacactgga aaatgccgtg aattactgga  420 aagagcttcg ggacttgctc attggtaagg aagacagagt tattatcaat atagccaatg  480 agtggttcgg tacctgggat actgctggct gggccgacgg ttataaagtt gtcattccgg  540 aactacgtaa cgccggactg gaacacctgc tggttgtaga cacagcggga tacggacaat  600 atcctcaagc tatttttgaa aaaggtaagg aggttttcca gacagacctt cttgcccgca  660 cggtgttttc cattcacatg tatgaatatg cagcgacgga tgtaacaatg ataaaaggaa  720 atattgactc ggccttgaat acaggcatcc cggtgattat tggagaattt ggtgaccgaa  780 aaccggagtc gcagcatgtt gatatcgata ccatcatgag ctacactcgc gagaaatccg  840 taggctggtt ggcctggtcc tggtacggta acggtaacga tgaatcaatt cttgacctga  900 cgaacggacc tagcggagat tacagtctta ctaacgtggg gagtcaaatt gttgacagtg  960 agaacggcat tcgcaaaacc tccacaatct gttcaatatt caattaaaaa aaaagatgtt 1020 tgtttgtgca tttttgttat aataaacgtt tcatttgcat att 1063

Isolated polynucleotides having at least 90% similarity, at least 91% similarity, at least 92% similarity, at least 93% similarity, at least 94% similarity, at least 95% similarity, at least 96% similarity, at least 97% similarity, at least 98% similarity, and/or at least 99% similarity to SEQ ID NO:2 are also encompassed by the present invention.

The genomic sequence from which the isolated polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO:2 is derived has a sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, as follows:

atggttgagt tcaccaatca agaatatgca gacatgcatt tgatttatgg ccaagccaat    60 ggcaattcct acgaagcgcg cagactctac gcacgtagat atcctaatcg gagactacct   120 gatccaaaaa catttccaaa tattcacatt cgactatgtg aaactggaac atataaacag   180 ttcagtggtt tcgaaggagt acatcaaatc gcgagaactc cagaaatcga agaagccgtt   240 ctaaatagtg ttgaagccga tcctgctacg agcacaagga aaattgcaat aacattgaac   300 atttcattta tgcttgtctg aagaattctg actgataacc ttttgtatcc ttaccacctt   360 acaagggttc aagctcttct cccacgagac tttcctttag gcgtaaattt ttgcgagtag   420 ttcttacaaa tgctggctca aaatccgtcg tttgcatcgt ttgcgtcgtt ttgtttattt   480 tatttacgga tgaagcaaat ttttcaagaa attccatccg aaattttcat aatgaacatt   540 tttggggaga agaaaatcca catttagtac gagaaaacaa ttttcaacat caattttctg   600 tcaacgtttg ggcaggaatt attggcgatt atttaatagg accatttttt ctgtcgaaga   660 ggttgaatgg tggctattat catcggtttt tcgaagagga acttcccgta cttttagatg   720 aggtaccgct tcttttgaga aaccaaatgt ggctaatgca cgatggtgcg ccagtccatt   780 ttagtcggga agtaagggag ttcctaaatg aacattatca caaccgttgg attgatcgag   840 ggggaactca gtcatggccc ccgaggtccc cggacctgaa tagtctggat ttttttttct   900 agggacatct caaatccttg gtgtaccaaa ccccaattaa cacagtggag gaattgcgaa   960 acagaatagt cgattcatgt aacgtcattc gcaatactcc tggtattttt gaaagagtcc  1020 gccggtctat gaggcacaga gcggaatctt gcatcttagc aagaggagga cattttcaac  1080 agttcctata gtcttgtttt atttagatta aattactttt actgttacct tacgaattta  1140 atacataaga ttcattgtac tcttttgttg tacgttttcc ttaatatgca tcggtaactg  1200 tttatgcaaa tttttcgcaa atgataaaag atacgagaaa aatgcaagag atcaaaaagt  1260 aagagaaata gacaaggaat ctaaatgtga aatcaaaatt tatacatagt gttccaaaaa  1320 aaagttagga agcaaaaaat agcacatgac ccaagaaaac ataagaccct gtatatggag  1380 agcaacgatt ttgccatttt catatagagg ctcttaaaaa atatagatat accaaatttc  1440 attaaattat ctttaggcat aagaaagaaa atagtagaaa atttaaaaaa aatcaaactt  1500 tatcaccctg tatatcaaaa atggtgcgtt tttccccata ggtgtattag catttttttc  1560 ttattttgcc gaatactatc accccctgaa atatctccat gatgatctgt tacaccctgt  1620 acacctaaaa agtaaaataa taaaacgttt aaattttatc ttttaacgta gataagattt  1680 tgcgtccttt gtttccttct aagttttaat cgagatttcg cctcattttc gctcattcgc  1740 cagaagacct cagtgaaagc gattcattaa gtctgaaatt taactttgtt ccctaccgaa  1800 tattcttttt ctgacgatag acgatagctg atcgggtgtg tactcaattc tttaaggagt  1860 ttacaatatg accgctgata cattaacgcg ggcactgctg ctgttgctgt tgttgcgcgc  1920 tgctgctgct gtacccggat tcacggtttc cggtactcga attttagatg ctaacggtca  1980 ggaatttatg ataagagggg tcagtcacgc acatacctgg tataaggatg atattaatgg  2040 ggccatcaca tccatcgctg ctgctggcgc caacacggtt cgcattgtac tttctaatgg  2100 cggacagtgg acaaaagaca acctggattc agttcagaac attctgtccc tctgtgagag  2160 ccataagctt attgccatgc tggaagttca cgatgccacc ggcaatgaca gccaagaaac  2220 actggaaaat gccgtgaatt actggaaaga gcttcgggac ttgctcattg gtaaggaaga  2280 cagagttatt atcaatatag ccaatgagtg gttcggtacc tgggatactg ctggctgggc  2340 cgacggttat aaagttgtca ttccggaact acgtaacgcc ggactggaac acctgctggt  2400 tgtagacaca gcgggatacg gacaatatcc tcaagctatt tttgaaaaag gtaaggaggt  2460 tttccagaca gaccttcttg cccgcacggt gttttccatt cacatgtatg aatatgcagc  2520 gacggatgta acaatgataa aaggaaatat tgactcggcc ttgaatacag gcatcccggt  2580 gattattgga gaatttggtg accgaaaacc ggagtcgcag catgttgata tcgataccat  2640 catgagctac actcgcgaga aatccgtagg ctggttggcc tggtcctggt acggtaacgg  2700 taacgatgaa tcaattcttg acctgacgaa cggacctagc ggagattaca gtcttactaa  2760 cgtggggagt caaattgttg acagtgagaa cggcattcgc aaaacctcca caatctgttc  2820 aatattcaat taaaaaaaaa gatgtttgtt tgtgcatttt tgttataata aacgtttcat  2880 ttgcatatta aatatactaa tccaatatat atttatagac aatagattat taaaaaagta  2940 aattttaaaa taacttcttc aaaaaagaac atttacgctc aaagtgacct atagacgtca  3000 ataatttaaa atgtcactct tcgcacattg acaataacct gcatagacgt ctatgaacgt  3060 cgttgtctat agacgtgttc ctttaattgt tttctaaagc tttgatcaat tggttcagaa  3120 aaacggttca atagattcat ttaataattt acaggactat tgggggtaca ttaggctata  3180 aaacggcctc tcaatatttg tcttcccatc aatatttaaa aagtaatagt agatttgtta  3240 aaggactgta aaatgtaatt ttttagtagt ttttccaaat taaagctaag agtaaaaaaa  3300 acggtttttc tacaaaagtc atggaagggt tttgtaggga atttaatcag gtttttaaaa  3360 ctatccttga aattaaagtt tacttaagcg atcactggtt gctgagatat cgatgatcaa  3420 agataaaagg atcctttttc tttcaaagtt agatgtctca gcaagggatt gacgtagatg  3480 tatgaaaaaa aaaacaaaat gaagctgaat aaacaaggta accgaccact gtacgacaag  3540 ggttcaaatg gaaaaaaatt tctgagaccc atggagactt tagaagaaga agaaaatttt  3600 gaaaaatgtt tacctcgcgc catttcttgg gattgcgcgg taaccataac tccaaaggaa  3660 attccgatgt aagatctgaa aactataaaa cattaagctt caaaatgctt ttttctccaa  3720 ctcgatacga ccgttttttc acaaagatac tcaaagaaca ctaaaaaaaa taaaaaaagg  3780 tttttacttt aattttttgg attagtatta ttaacattat ttaatctaaa ataatactga  3840 tattggtatt aactttcacc aggtacactg gtttcaatag aaacgttacc aatttagtta  3900 catagcatca aagaaaagaa tgacattatg atcatcaatt ataattgatt gttcgattat  3960 aatataacta ttattgatta ttatattatt ataattctct taggtattaa gcccttaagt  4020 caaaaatcgt agttttctac aaaacgagat taaaaatttt ataacgctat gcaacagaaa  4080 aaaaaattca ctgggtttac agtacgtggt gatgatacct cactatttac tcaattaata  4140 tttatatata aaatagtccc atcaattatt taaattttca aaaaaaaaat ttattaaatt  4200 gttcaacaaa gagttaacaa taatttcaca atagttaaga actaatttct taattttcaa  4260 tatggccccc ttcctgtaaa atacacttat ctattcgttt tctgatgtgt tgcacaactt  4320 aaataataaa tgttgtaata tttcttgaaa atttaattaa ggttaccaga tgtcactttt  4380 ttacaattat tctaacaaga gttgagtgat agtttagggt tcgatccctg ctacctccga  4440 tatttttttt tttcgttttt tttttgttaa taacaatagt aataattgtc aaaataatta  4500 aaaacgataa aaataattta tttgacgcat tttacagtta tttaaagctt gtaatgagag  4560 aatttatatg attcgcatat taaattaagg attttcacta caaatttcat atttcaaaaa  4620 caattggtcc tattttaata aaattatcta ccaggaggtt tttgatgatg ctctttcata  4680 atatgttaaa aaaatgcgtt taaaattacc ctaatacatt tttctgtaaa atctacccta  4740 atatttaact ataaaaacgt acgccaatga cgaagggaaa ccattttagg caaatcacaa  4800 tcggaattca aagatacaca actgatccaa atttgaagtg aatcggctaa acagtttttg  4860 agatacaaaa gtggctccat gaatcgtgcg acatactata tgcgatcaaa ataagacttt  4920 tttttcctat aaacatgtgc cctaaaatgc accccctcca aactacagcc attctaagtt  4980 gcgcgacaaa aatcaattat tttaaatttt gactacagtt atggatcaaa tttttgaaaa  5040 attgcacatc cgtttttctt aaacactgta ttcatttctt gctttaaaaa taacgtaacc  5100 ctaattttag agaagatgga gagggatcca cttattgcgt aaataaaatt taatgtttcc  5160 aacgagaaat cctaacttta accatcagca tctagtagac catggaaaaa tctaaaattt  5220 atctctagca ttttcttaat gcaactaatc gaatctttac aggacctgac ataaaaaaat  5280 taattgatga tacctctttt ttatcaagtc tcatttacat agaataacag gcatgattag  5340 catttgttga cgtcacaaaa aattttctcg gcaattacaa atcaacagat ttctgtgaaa  5400 aaattaattt aatgttgaat gcctatcaga aattagggtg caatatatca ctgaaaattc  5460 atttcttgca atatcactta agttttttcc gaaaaatatg gattcagtta gtaatgaact  5520 aggtatatgt gcggtaaatt tatgttgcaa aaaaatgtac gcagattacc tgaattataa  5580 caacaaagtt gtcgaaaaat gtcgaaacac ctccgaaaat tgaaacatag caaaaattat  5640 ccgagtcatt tatgcacttg aattcgtgat ttcttttact catttcacaa atttattaca  5700 tgattaaaat taaattattt attaaattac aagagaatga taaaaaaaat aattaaggct  5760 tttaaatgtt gtatatgaac tgtcacaccg taacagattt gtcaacatat taacaattga  5820 cagtaaaaat ttcaaattta taattcggtc atccattaga aaattcataa cttcactatt  5880 tatccataaa tttgcatcca aagtaacttg ttcttttcat gaatgtgtca gctctacata  5940 aaacaattga aactggacct atctttgcga tttctatttt ttccagggcc atatgggaaa  6000 ctttgcaata aatcttgtgc aataaattat gacaattagg aatatttggt gcggtgtaca  6060 tattatatac aggttgaaga aaatacctcc cccataaaag ggccttcaaa atagtctaat  6120 acaattttgc ccttaaacga acagggaaga taatattaaa ggatattgaa atttatatgg  6180 gttttcctat tgtcggtccg gaggggcaac atccaatata ctatatgaaa taaagttgtc  6240 tatagttagt acattgttaa taatttgatt ttcatatatt ctgtattcag tttctaccgt  6300 acaagtagcg gcggagatgt ggatgtcatg tattattaaa cttgtatgga aaaaaaggat  6360 aaaaaaggac acttatatct ccaccattga tgaatggtta aagctggtaa ttttttggaa  6420 tacacctacc gatatgctaa actcatatac gaaatttggt taaaaaatct taagccgttt  6480 tggaatttaa aaaataaaga aatgttcttt tttttaaact ttaacaccct gtatctcgga  6540 aacggtgcgt ttgcgggccc atgttcatat aaactttttt gcttattttt gtctgaagaa  6600 tcatcccttg aaatttatgc acgtacttaa ttaacaccct gtatttcacg taccatgtcc  6660 tactatacct aaactcaaca gttggcgaga aattttgttg tcgtacctgg tttttgggcc  6720 atcctgtata catggattta tcatcacaaa aacctcaacc aaaaataaaa attgacgtgt  6780 atgagcgttt tttttttttg aaaaacaaat ttctgaattt taaatgaatg tattccttat  6840 tttatcataa acctgtatat aaatttaaaa aaaacgtgat gtgatacgtg aaaactaagt  6900 tgttatttgg attcagcagg acaaaattta tatgttttat ctaaaattat gcaaaaaata  6960 ttttcatcgc agacccgtgt tatcaatgta aaaattaatt aaaccccctc gtaaaagcca  7020 gcgttttgac atttgaatgt ttccgcccca atgttgaagg gaaaaataaa aagttactag  7080 aatgtaacta gttaggctgc catatttgga gtaacatgtt ccctctctct ctctaacaca  7140 cgtgaacata actttgcggt actgtataga tttagtgact gtacctacat agtcatacgt  7200 atggaaactt atacagtgta tcaatttaaa aactagcaat ggagaatatc ttctaaatga  7260 aaagtgctat caggacgatc tcaaaaacgt atcgggggat tcgaaaagga accaaaatga  7320 tatattaatc aatccgtttt cacttatccc ctcgccccca accaccccaa cgttcagaat  7380 ttcaaatggc accatctgtc atgtaatacc tcaaatggaa ggtatttcaa aactgcattt  7440 aggggtataa ttagatttta atttattgat tcgtttttga gaaaaagtgc ctcaaaaagg  7500 taaaattaaa aattttaata ttgtttctta caaaaacaat taggttttca atacatgttg  7560 ttaggaacag ggccggattt agggcagggc aggcggggct actgccccgg ggcctccaca  7620 aggaaggggc ccccacaata gagaaaaata aatatcgaaa tttcgacggg tcagcaactt  7680 ttaatttttt ttagtttttt caatacttaa gtgtctttcg ggacccgtgg agcgaattgg  7740 ggtgctgggt ggggtaaaca actagctccg agtgtgctaa ttgcggcgtt ctttaaaaaa  7800 aataatttat ttttgtttct ttttttcatt ttctggcgtt tcctggatgc caaaaatatg  7860 ttttttttct caaaactgta aatgtcgtta aagcgttacg gaccccaagt ttccatttac  7920 tgtcaatttt ttattttatc aagcatctcg gtggcaatac ttttttttta atgtgtaatt  7980 tgtaatttgt gctcatgagt taaaaagaaa taaaataagt aaaaagaaat tccaaggttt  8040 tataaaaagt atatatggta accgggtgac tattaaaatt tcttctcaag taggctttgg  8100 aattatttga caccgagtcc gtatgtctta gatttattaa cagattcgta tttaagtgag  8160 gttgggttta tttgtttata ttcgaaacta agtaaagaac atatcaaaga cttacggact  8220 cgctgtcaaa taattccaca gcctacttga gaagaaattt taatagtcac ccgttataaa  8280 tacgatttaa atcttacggt tggcaacact gtcgtggtta agaagtgtcc gagtgtagcg  8340 tgctcgaagc ggggaatccc taaattttat tagaagctac ggacgtattg caacaaaagt  8400 aaaatcttct gaatttatat ctacaaacac acgtaagtat tttcgtattt atcttgtgat  8460 ctataagata taatgaattt tatatttcat tgtgcaatta cgaaaatttg tttttttttc  8520 ttaaaggagc gatatgcttt aaagagcaaa aacgtaaaca gaggttatgg aggttttatt  8580 ccacgactac attcttattt tcttaagatt tcttttacaa tggtattatg agtgatcgcc  8640 ataaaactcc tcgagttttc gctagtggat cccaaaaaag gaaattgcaa acagaacgtg  8700 aaaaaaaaaa agtgaagaaa atttagctaa aatacccaaa ttgaccaact attttacatc  8760 gacacccaaa caaaaacttc cgcaagatcc tgaaaaatca gcagaagatt cagcagtaga  8820 tggagatggg gttgatagta atcaagataa tccagctgtt acatcaggcg acaccatagg  8880 atcttcaaaa acttgtagtc acaatcaaga ggaagtagat tttcgtggtt tcaaaaatga  8940 cattggtctt tggcctgacg tcataacaga agaaatgatc aaatattggg cgaagaaggg  9000 ttccacaaaa ctgcaaaact gtgatgaagt ttctctgcag aattcagttc tccaagacca  9060 gtcgcaagat aataaaaact ttgttcggaa atgttcaaag aatatgttta cacgtcgcaa  9120 tcaaaatcaa gagactgtta atcgattctg gctttgtttt tctccaacta agggaaaagt  9180 atattgctat gcatgtaaat taatgtccac tcaaaaacga agctaagtgg ggaaggcttc  9240 agtgactgga aacatgcatc tgagcggctg tacgagcatg agatttcaaa aactcatttg  9300 gaatcagtga tgaatttagt gcaacgagga gaagtcacag gacgtatcga tcaagagtta  9360 acgatacaag aggcacaaca aattgaatat tggcgaaaaa ttcttacaat tgtcgtcagt  9420 acgattaaat tcattgctga acgcggatta gcctttcgag gagacgatga aattattgga  9480 tcatcgagaa atggcaattt tctgggtatt ttagaattgc tagccgagta cgaaccaatc  9540 ttggcagctc atttaaaaca gcatgcaaac aaagggagag gtcacgtcaa ttatctttct  9600 tctacgatct gcgaagaact gacaaattcc atgggtgatc aagtgttcaa tgaaatcgta  9660 gcaaggatta aaaaatcaaa gtactattct gtttcagtgg actctactcc tgacgaatct  9720 catatcgatc aacttactat agttattcgc tatattgaag gatcgatgcc aaaggaacga  9780 tttcttattt tttaccaaat tgcggtcata ctggtgaagc cacagcaaaa gctttactac  9840 aatttttaag ttaccatcaa attgacatcc ttaattgccg aggtcaatcg tacgacaatg  9900 ctgcaaatat gagtggtaaa tatcaaggga tgcaagctct tattttgcag aaaaatcatt  9960 tatctacgtt tgtaccatgt tgtggtcact cactcaactt agttggaaag gcagctgcta 10020 actcttgtgc atcggcagtt caattctttg atttcgttca gaatttatat acgtttttta 10080 cagcaagtac acaacgatac cgaattctgt ctgaaaaatt atcagagaaa aaaagcggac 10140 agtcatatgt tttaaaaaat cttagcgata ctcgctggtc atgtagggtt gcagccacga 10200 aggccattgt tatgggatat tctgaaatcg aagaagctct aaccagcata tcttctgata 10260 aggaacagaa agat 10274

The determination of percent identity, i.e. sequence similarity, between two amino acid sequences or two nucleotide sequences can be accomplished using a mathematical algorithm. A preferred, non-limiting example of a mathematical algorithm utilized for the comparison of two sequences is the algorithm of Karlin et al., “Methods for Assessing the Statistical Significance of Molecular Sequence Features by Using General Scoring Schemes,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 87:2264-2268 (1990), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, modified as in Karlin et al., “Applications and Statistics for Multiple High-Scoring Segments in Molecular Sequences,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 90:5873-5877 (1993), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Another non-limiting example of a mathematical algorithm utilized for the comparison of sequences is the algorithm of Myers et al., CABIOS (1989). Such an algorithm can be incorporated into the ALIGN program (version 2.0) which is part of the CGC sequence alignment software package. Additional algorithms for sequence analysis are known in the art and include ADVANCE and ADAM as described in Torellis et al. “ADVANCE and ADAM: Two Algorithms for the Analysis of Global Similarity between Homologous Informational Sequences,” Comput. Appl. Biosci. 10:3-5 (1994), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, and FASTA described in Pearson et al., “Improved Tools for Biological Sequence Comparison,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 85:2444-8 (1988), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The isolated β-mannanase protein of the present invention is preferably produced in purified form by conventional techniques. For example, to isolate the protein, a protocol involving a host cell such as Escherchia coli may be used, in which the E. coli host cell carrying a recombinant plasmid is propagated, homogenized, and the homogenate is centrifuged to remove bacterial debris. The supernatant is then subjected to sequential ammonium sulfate precipitation. The fraction containing the β-mannanase protein can be subjected to gel filtration in an appropriately sized dextran or polyacrylamide column to separate the protein or polypeptide. If necessary, the protein fraction may be further purified by HPLC. Isolated β-mannanase proteins of the present invention may also be produced according to a protocol involving insect host cells, preferably Sf9 insect cell lines.

The present invention is also directed to fragments of the β-mannanase protein of the present invention. Fragments of the β-mannanase protein can be produced by digestion of a full-length protein with proteolytic enzymes like chymotrypsin or Staphylococcus proteinase A, or trypsin. Different proteolytic enzymes are likely to cleave the β-mannanase protein at different sites based on the amino acid sequence of the protein.

In another approach, based on knowledge of the primary structure of the protein, fragments of the genes encoding the protein may be synthesized by using a PCR technique together with specific sets of primers chosen to represent particular portions of the protein of interest. These then would be cloned into an appropriate vector for expression of a truncated peptide or protein.

Chemical synthesis can also be used to make suitable fragments. Such a synthesis is carried out using known amino acid sequences for the protein being produced. Alternatively, subjecting a full length β-mannanase protein of the present invention to high temperatures and pressures will produce fragments. These fragments can then be separated by conventional procedures (e.g., chromatography, SDS-PAGE).

Variants may also (or alternatively) be made, for example, by the deletion or addition of amino acids that have minimal influence on the properties, secondary structure and hydropathic nature of the protein. For example, a protein may be conjugated to a signal (or leader) sequence at the N-terminal end of the protein which co-translationally or post-translationally directs transfer of the protein. The protein may also be conjugated to a linker or other sequence for ease of synthesis, purification, or identification of the protein.

The protein of the present invention is preferably produced in purified form (preferably at least about 80%, more preferably 90%, pure) by conventional techniques. Typically, the protein of the present invention is secreted into the growth medium of Helicobacter cells or host cells which express a functional type III secretion system capable of secreting the protein of the present invention. Alternatively, the protein of the present invention is produced but not secreted into growth medium of recombinant host cells (e.g., Escherichia coli). In such cases, to isolate the protein, the host cell (e.g., E. coli) carrying a recombinant plasmid may be propagated, lysed by sonication, heat, differential pressure, or chemical treatment, and the homogenate is centrifuged to remove bacterial debris. The supernatant is then subjected to sequential ammonium sulfate precipitation. The fraction containing the polypeptide or protein of the present invention is subjected to gel filtration in an appropriately sized dextran or polyacrylamide column to separate the proteins. If necessary, the protein fraction may be further purified by HPLC.

The present invention also relates to an isolated polynucleotide encoding the β-mannanase protein, and an isolated expression system and host cell containing the polynucleotide.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of recombinantly producing β-mannanase protein. This method involves providing a host cell containing the polynucleotide of the present invention and culturing the host cell under conditions effective for the host cell to express β-mannanase protein. The β-mannanase protein is recovered.

The polynucleotide of the present invention may be inserted into any of the many available expression vectors using reagents that are well known in the art. In preparing a DNA vector for expression, the DNA sequence may normally be inserted or substituted into a bacterial plasmid. Any convenient plasmid may be employed, which will be characterized by having a bacterial replication system, a marker which allows for selection in a bacterium, and generally one or more unique, conveniently located restriction sites. Numerous plasmids, referred to as transformation vectors, are available for plant transformation. The selection of a vector will depend on the preferred transformation technique and target species for transformation. A variety of vectors are available for stable transformation using Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a soilborne bacterium that causes crown gall. Crown gall is characterized by tumors or galls that develop on the lower stem and main roots of the infected plant. These tumors are due to the transfer and incorporation of part of the bacterium plasmid DNA into the plant chromosomal DNA. This transfer DNA (T-DNA) is expressed along with the normal genes of the plant cell. The plasmid DNA, pTi, or Ti-DNA, for “tumor inducing plasmid,” contains the vir genes necessary for movement of the T-DNA into the plant. The T-DNA carries genes that encode proteins involved in the biosynthesis of plant regulatory factors, and bacterial nutrients (opines). The T-DNA is delimited by two 25 bp imperfect direct repeat sequences called the “border sequences.” By removing the oncogene and opine genes, and replacing them with a gene of interest, it is possible to transfer foreign DNA into the plant without the formation of tumors or the multiplication of Agrobacterium tumefaciens (Fraley et al., “Expression of Bacterial Genes in Plant Cells,” Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. 80:4803-4807 (1983), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety).

Further improvement of this technique led to the development of the binary vector system (Bevan, “Binary Agrobacterium Vectors for Plant Transformation,” Nucleic Acids Res. 12:8711-8721 (1984), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). In this system, all the T-DNA sequences (including the borders) are removed from the pTi, and a second vector containing T-DNA is introduced into Agrobacterium tumefaciens. This second vector has the advantage of being replicable in E. coli as well as A. tumefaciens, and contains a multiclonal site that facilitates the cloning of a transgene. An example of a commonly used vector is pBin19 (Frisch et al., “Complete Sequence of the Binary Vector Bin19,” Plant Molec. Biol. 27:405-409 (1995), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). Any appropriate vectors now known or later described for genetic transformation are suitable for use with the present invention.

Suitable vectors for practicing the present invention may also include, but are not limited to, the following viral vectors such as lambda vector system gt11, gtWES.tB, Charon 4, and plasmid vectors such as pBR322, pBR325, pACYC177, pACYC184, pUC8, pUC9, pUC18, pUC19, pLG339, pR290, pKC37, pKC11, SV 40, pBluescript II SK +/− or KS +/−(see “Stratagene Cloning Systems” Catalog (1993), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety), pQE, pIH821, pGEX, pET series (Studier et al, “Use of T7 RNA Polymerase to Direct Expression of Cloned Genes,” Methods in Enzymology 185:60-89 (1990), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety), and any derivatives thereof.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,224 issued to Cohen and Boyer, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, describes the production of expression systems in the form of recombinant plasmids using restriction enzyme cleavage and ligation with DNA ligase. These recombinant plasmids are then introduced by means of transformation and replicated in unicellular cultures including prokaryotic organisms and eukaryotic cells grown in tissue culture.

A variety of host-vector systems may be utilized to express the protein-encoding sequence(s) of the present invention. Primarily, the vector system must be compatible with the host cell used. Host-vector systems include but are not limited to the following: bacteria transformed with bacteriophage DNA, plasmid DNA, or cosmid DNA; microorganisms such as yeast containing yeast vectors; mammalian cell systems infected with virus (e.g., vaccinia virus, adenovirus, etc.); insect cell systems infected with virus (e.g., baculovirus); and plant cells infected by bacteria. The expression elements of these vectors vary in their strength and specificities. Depending upon the host-vector system utilized, any one of a number of suitable transcription and translation elements can be used.

The protein according to the present invention can be incorporated into an appropriate vector in the sense direction, such that the open reading frame is properly oriented for the expression of the encoded protein under control of a promoter of choice. This involves the inclusion of the appropriate regulatory elements into the DNA-vector construct. These include non-translated regions of the vector, useful promoters, and 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions which interact with host cellular proteins to carry out transcription and translation. Such elements may vary in their strength and specificity. Depending on the vector system and host utilized, any number of suitable transcription and translation elements, including constitutive and inducible promoters, may be used.

A constitutive promoter is a promoter that directs expression of a gene throughout the development and life of an organism. Examples of some constitutive promoters that are widely used for inducing expression of transgenes include the nopaline synthase (NOS) gene promoter, from Agrobacterium tumefaciens (U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,322 issued to Rogers et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety), the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35 and 19S promoters (U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,605 issued to Fraley et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety), those derived from any of the several actin genes, which are known to be expressed in most cells types (U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,068 issued to Privalle et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety), and the ubiquitin promoter, which is a gene product known to accumulate in many cell types.

An inducible promoter is a promoter that is capable of directly or indirectly activating transcription of one or more DNA sequences or genes in response to an inducer. In the absence of an inducer, the DNA sequences or genes will not be transcribed. The inducer can be a chemical agent, such as a metabolite, growth regulator, herbicide, or phenolic compound, or a physiological stress directly imposed upon the plant such as cold, heat, salt, toxins, or through the action of a pathogen or disease agent such as a virus or fungus. A plant cell containing an inducible promoter may be exposed to an inducer by externally applying the inducer to the cell or plant such as by spraying, watering, heating, or by exposure to the operative pathogen. An example of an appropriate inducible promoter for use in the present invention is a glucocorticoid-inducible promoter (Schena et al., “A Steroid-Inducible Gene Expression System for Plant Cells,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 88:10421-5 (1991), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). Expression of the transgene-encoded protein is induced in the transformed plants when the transgenic plants are brought into contact with nanomolar concentrations of a glucocorticoid, or by contact with dexamethasone, a glucocorticoid analog (Schena et al., “A Steroid-Inducible Gene Expression System for Plant Cells,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:10421-5 (1991); Aoyama et al., “A Glucocorticoid-Mediated Transcriptional Induction System in Transgenic Plants,” Plant J. 11: 605-612 (1997), and McNellis et al., “Glucocorticoid-Inducible Expression of a Bacterial Avirulence Gene in Transgenic Arabidopsis Induces Hypersensitive Cell Death,” Plant J. 14(2):247-57 (1998), which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety). In addition, inducible promoters include promoters that function in a tissue specific manner to regulate the gene of interest within selected tissues of the plant. Examples of such tissue specific or developmentally regulated promoters include seed, flower, fruit, or root specific promoters as are well known in the field (U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,385 issued to Shewmaker et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a heterologous promoter is linked to the nucleic acid of the construct, where “heterologous promoter” is defined as a promoter to which the nucleic acid of the construct is not linked in nature.

The expression system of the present invention can also include an operable 3′ regulatory region, selected from among those which are capable of providing correct transcription termination and polyadenylation of mRNA for expression in the host cell of choice, operably linked to a DNA molecule which encodes for a protein of choice.

The vector of choice, promoter, and an appropriate 3′ regulatory region can be ligated together to produce the DNA construct of the present invention using well known molecular cloning techniques as described in Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Press, NY (1989), and Ausubel, F. M. et al. Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, New York, N.Y: John Wiley & Sons, (1989), which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The efficiency of expression can be enhanced by the inclusion of appropriate transcription or translation enhancer elements (e.g., elements disclosed in Bittner et al., Methods in Enzymol. 153:516 (1987), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). Additionally, the gene sequence can be modified for optimal codon usage in the appropriate expression system or, alternatively, the expression host can be modified to express specific tRNA molecules to facilitate expression of the desired gene.

In addition, the recombinant expression vector can contain additional nucleotide sequences. For example, the recombinant expression vector may encode a selectable marker gene to identify host cells that have incorporated the vector. Moreover, to facilitate secretion of the protein from a host cell, the recombinant expression vector can encode a signal sequence linked to the amino-terminus of the protein, such that upon expression, the protein is synthesized with the signal sequence fused to its amino terminus. This signal sequence directs the protein into the secretory pathway of the cell and is then usually cleaved, allowing for release of the protein without the signal sequence from the host cell. Use of a signal sequence to facilitate secretion of proteins or peptides from mammalian host cells is well known in the art.

Once an expression system containing a polynucleotide according to the present invention has been prepared, it is ready to be incorporated into a host cell. Basically, this method can be carried out by transforming a host cell with the expression system of the present invention under conditions effective to yield transcription of the DNA molecule in the host cell. Recombinant molecules can be introduced into cells via transformation, particularly transduction, conjugation, mobilization, or electroporation. The DNA sequences are cloned into the host cell using standard cloning procedures known in the art, as described by Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition, Cold Springs Laboratory, Cold Springs Harbor, N.Y. (1989), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Suitable host cells include, but are not limited to, bacteria, virus, yeast, mammalian cells, insect, plant, and the like. Methods of transformation may result in transient or stable expression of the nucleic acid under control of the promoter. In one embodiment, a nucleic acid construct of the present invention is stably inserted into the genome of the recombinant plant cell as a result of the transformation, although transient expression can serve an important purpose, particularly when the plant under investigation is slow-growing.

Plant tissue suitable for transformation include leaf tissue, root tissue, meristems, zygotic and somatic embryos, callus, protoplasts, tassels, pollen, embryos, anthers, and the like. The means of transformation chosen is that most suited to the tissue to be transformed.

Transient expression in plant tissue is often achieved by particle bombardment (Klein et al., “High-Velocity Microprojectiles for Delivering Nucleic Acids Into Living Cells,” Nature 327:70-73 (1987), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). In this method, tungsten or gold microparticles (1 to 2 μm in diameter) are coated with the DNA of interest and then bombarded at the tissue using high pressure gas. In this way, it is possible to deliver foreign DNA into the nucleus and obtain a temporal expression of the gene under the current conditions of the tissue. Biologically active particles (e.g., dried bacterial cells containing the vector and heterologous DNA) can also be propelled into plant cells. Other variations of particle bombardment, now known or hereafter developed, can also be used.

An appropriate method of stably introducing the nucleic acid construct into plant cells is to infect a plant cell with Agrobacterium tumefaciens or Agrobacterium rhizogenes previously transformed with the nucleic acid construct. As described above, the Ti (or RI) plasmid of Agrobacterium enables the highly successful transfer of a foreign nucleic acid molecule into plant cells. Another approach to transforming plant cells with a gene which imparts resistance to pathogens is particle bombardment (also known as biolistic transformation) of the host cell, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,945,050, 5,036,006, and 5,100,792, all to Sanford et al., and in Emerschad et al., “Somatic Embryogenesis and Plant Development from Immature Zygotic Embryos of Seedless Grapes (Vitis vinifera),”Plant Cell Reports 14:6-12 (1995), which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Yet another method of introduction is fusion of protoplasts with other entities, either minicells, cells, lysosomes, or other fusible lipid-surfaced bodies (Fraley et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 79:1859-63 (1982), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). The nucleic acid molecule may also be introduced into the plant cells by electroporation (Fromm et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:5824 (1985), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). In this technique, plant protoplasts are electroporated in the presence of plasmids containing the expression cassette. Electrical impulses of high field strength reversibly permeabilize biomembranes allowing the introduction of the plasmids. Electroporated plant protoplasts reform the cell wall, divide, and regenerate. The precise method of transformation is not critical to the practice of the present invention. Any method that results in efficient transformation of the host cell of choice is appropriate for practicing the present invention.

After transformation, the transformed plant cells must be regenerated. Plant regeneration from cultured protoplasts is described in Evans et al., Handbook of Plant Cell Cultures, Vol. 1: (MacMillan Publishing Co., New York, 1983); Vasil I. R. (ed.), Cell Culture and Somatic Cell Genetics of Plants, Acad. Press, Orlando, Vol. I, 1984, and Vol. III (1986), and Fitch et al., “Somatic Embryogenesis and Plant Regeneration from Immature Zygotic Embryos of Papaya (Carica papaya L.),” Plant Cell Rep. 9:320 (1990), which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Means for regeneration varies from species to species of plants, but generally a suspension of transformed protoplasts or a petri plate containing explants is first provided. Callus tissue is formed and shoots may be induced from callus and subsequently rooted. Alternatively, embryo formation can be induced in the callus tissue. These embryos germinate as natural embryos to form plants. The culture media will generally contain various amino acids and hormones, such as auxin and cytokinins. Efficient regeneration will depend on the medium, on the genotype, and on the history of the culture. If these three variables are controlled, then regeneration is usually reproducible and repeatable.

Preferably, transformed cells are first identified using a selection marker simultaneously introduced into the host cells along with the nucleic acid construct of the present invention. Suitable selection markers include, without limitation, markers encoding for antibiotic resistance, such as the nptII gene which confers kanamycin resistance (Fraley et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80:4803-4807 (1983), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety), and the genes which confer resistance to gentamycin, G418, hygromycin, streptomycin, spectinomycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and the like. Cells or tissues are grown on a selection medium containing the appropriate antibiotic, whereby generally only those transformants expressing the antibiotic resistance marker continue to grow. Other types of markers are also suitable for inclusion in the expression cassette of the present invention. For example, a gene encoding for herbicide tolerance, such as tolerance to sulfonylurea is useful, or the dhfr gene, which confers resistance to methotrexate (Bourouis et al., EMBO J. 2:1099-1104 (1983), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). Similarly, “reporter genes,” which encode for enzymes providing for production of an identifiable compound are suitable. The most widely used reporter gene for gene fusion experiments has been uidA, a gene from Escherichia coli that encodes the β-glucuronidase protein, also known as GUS (Jefferson et al., “GUS Fusions: β Glucuronidase as a Sensitive and Versatile Gene Fusion Marker in Higher Plants,” EMBO J. 6:3901-3907 (1987), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). Similarly, enzymes providing for production of a compound identifiable by luminescence, such as luciferase, are useful. The selection marker employed will depend on the target species; for certain target species, different antibiotics, herbicide, or biosynthesis selection markers are preferred.

Plant cells and tissues selected by means of an inhibitory agent or other selection marker are then tested for the acquisition of the viral gene by Southern blot hybridization analysis, using a probe specific to the viral genes contained in the given cassette used for transformation (Sambrook et al., “Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual,” Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.: Cold Spring Harbor Press (1989), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety).

After the fusion gene containing a nucleic acid construct of the present invention is stably incorporated in transgenic plants, the transgene can be transferred to other plants by sexual crossing. Any of a number of standard breeding techniques can be used, depending upon the species to be crossed. Once transgenic plants of this type are produced, the plants themselves can be cultivated in accordance with conventional procedure so that the nucleic acid construct is present in the resulting plants. Alternatively, transgenic seeds are recovered from the transgenic plants. These seeds can then be planted in the soil and cultivated using conventional procedures to produce transgenic plants.

The present invention can be utilized in conjunction with a wide variety of plants or their seeds. Suitable plants include dicots and monocots. Useful crop plants can include: alfalfa, rice, wheat, barley, rye, cotton, sunflower, peanut, corn, potato, sweet potato, bean, pea, chicory, lettuce, endive, cabbage, brussel sprout, beet, parsnip, turnip, cauliflower, broccoli, turnip, radish, spinach, onion, garlic, eggplant, pepper, celery, carrot, squash, pumpkin, zucchini, cucumber, apple, pear, melon, citrus, strawberry, grape, raspberry, pineapple, soybean, tobacco, tomato, sorghum, papaya, sugarcane, and coffee.

A further aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of degrading mannans and polysaccharides in plant material. This method involves providing plant material and contacting the plant material with the β-mannanase protein of the present invention under conditions effective to degrade mannans and polysaccharides in the plant material.

In a preferred embodiment, the plant material which is contacted with the β-mannanase protein of the present invention is coffee beans, although other plant materials where degradation of mannans and polysaccharides is desired may also be contacted.

It may also be desirable, pursuant to this method of the present invention, to recover soluble sugars from the degraded plant material, particularly those that result from the step of contacting the plant matter with the β-mannanase protein.

These aspects of the present invention are further illustrated by the examples below.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are provided to illustrate embodiments of the present invention, but they are by no means intended to limit its scope.

Example 1 β-Mannanase Cloning from Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hamper) Midgut

Sample Preparation

Coffee seeds were infected with adult insects of Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) as described in Rubio et al., “Morfologia Del Sistema Digestivo de Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari),” Cenicafe (Columbia) 58:66-74 (2007), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Briefly, infected coffee beans were dissected using a stereomicroscope and the larvae were collected in a Petri dish. Each larva was stored at 4° C. for at least 10 minutes to decrease physical activity and then placed in a glass slide with a drop of sterile distilled water and dissected under a Zeiss Estemi 2000 stereomicroscope using small forceps and 0.15 mm teasing needles. In order to isolate the midgut tissue, each larva was dissected with an incision at the prothorax and the mesothorax level, then a large incision along the larvae length to expose all the alimentary canal. Finally, after the removal of fat tissue, the midgut region was dissected and immediately deposited into a pre-chilled microcentrifuge tube with 100 μl of sterile distilled water containing 0.1% RNA Later™ reagent. All the dissected midgut tissues were stored at −80° C. until protein and RNA extraction.

Coffee Berry Borer YSST Library Construction

RNA was extracted from the midgut tissues and stored at −80° C. Polyadenylated RNA was isolated from the total RNA using Oligotex mRNA Midi Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The first-strand cDNA were synthesized from mRNA using N6-NotI primer:

(SEQ ID NO: 4) 5′-GAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAACCGCGCGGCCGCCNNNNNN-3′ with a cDNA Synthesis Kit (Stratagene). After second-strand synthesis, the cDNAs were prepared for unidirectional cloning by ligation with EcoRI adapters according to the manufacturer's instructions, followed by NotI digestion. The cDNAs were then fractioned on a 1% agarose gel by electrophoresis and those within an estimated size range of 300-1,000 bp excised from the gel and purified using QIAquick gel extraction kit (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.). The fragments were ligated to an equipartite mixture of the three vectors, PYSST0, pYSST1, and pYSST2, digested with EcoRI and NotI. Electrocompetent TOP10F′ Escherichia coli cells (Invitro, Carsbad, Calif.) were transformed with approximately 1 μg of the resulting YSST library by electroporation (Micropulser Electroporator, Bio-Rad, Hercules, Calif.) and spread on 10-15 large LB plates. Plasmid DNA was isolated from a pooled sample of the resulting transformants using the Perfectprep Plasmid Midi kit (Eppendorf). Fifty micrograms of the YSST library was transformed into the yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisae) strain DBYα2445 (MATα, suc2Δ-9, lys2-801, ura3-52, ade2-101) using the YEASTMAKER Yeast Transformation System2 (BD Biosciences, San Jose, Calif.). Transformants were spread on YP sucrose plates (1% yeast extract, 2% peptone, 2% sucrose, 2% agar, pH 6.5), incubated at 30° C. for 4-9d, and visible colonies were re-streaked on sucrose plate followed by incubation at 30° C. for 2-3d. Plasmids were isolated from visible colonies as described in Hoffmann and Winston, “A Ten-Minute DNA Preparation from Yeast Efficiently Releases Autonomous Plasmids for Transformation of Escherichia coli,” Gene 57:267-272 (1987), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, transformed into XL1-blue electrocompetent E. coli, and purified using a Qiaprep kit (Qiagen). Plasmid inserts were sequenced using a primer corresponding to ADH1 promoter of pYSST0, pYSST1, pYSST2 (5′-TCCTCGTCATTGTTCTCGTTCC-3′) (SEQ ID NO:5) at the Bio Resource Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. (http://www.brc.cornell.edu).

RACE Amplification

An oligonucleotide primer derived from the DNA sequence corresponding to the predicted signal sequences of isolated mannanase YSST clone was used in 3′RACE with the primer as an adapter primer. To obtain the full-length cDNA sequence, ‘touchdown’ PCR was performed using a program with 35 cycles of 94° C. for 1 min, 63° C. for 1 min, 72° C. for 2.5 min with the annealing temperature decreasing by 1° C. every second cycle to 60° C., followed by final extension of 72° C. for 10 min. The PCR products were subcloned into the pGEM-T Easy vector (Promega, Madison, Wis.). DNA sequences were determined as describes supra. β-mannanase from H. hampei is an endoglycanase (endo-β-1,4-D-glucanase, EC 3.2.1.4). It is a single polypeptide chain of 320 aminoacids, with a predicted molecular mass of 35.62 kDa and the theoretical pI is 4.72, calculated from amino-acid composition.

Example 2 Heterologous Expression of β-mannanase in Spodoptera frugiperta (Sf9) Cells

Construction of Fusion Protein Expression Plasmid

For the construction of C-terminal Mannanase-HIS-tagged expression plasmid, the cDNAs were reamplified by PCR using a mannanase cDNA in pGEM-T Easy vector (Promega, Madison, Wis.) as a template with the following primers:

5′-CACCATGGAACCTTTTGTGGTC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 6) and 5′-GACAGGGATGAAGCAGATCTGG-3′. (SEQ ID NO: 7) The underlined portion of SEQ ID NO:6 was introduced for directional TOPO cloning. The latter reverse primer lacks the stop codon in the native β-mannanase cDNA. The resulting cDNA was cloned into pENTR/D-TOPO vector (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) and designated pENTR/β-Mann.

DNA Baculovirus Recombination and Transfection

Baculovirus construction and protein expression in Sf9 cells were performed according to the BaculoDirect Baculovirus Expression System protocol from Invitrogen (Carlsbad, Calif.). Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9 cells were transfected with recombinant bacmid DNA for production of the baculovirus particles. Cells were cultured at 27° C. in SF900-II medium (Life Technologies) supplemented with 100 U/ml penicillin and 100 μg/ml streptomycin. For transfection, 9×10⁵ cells were plated in 35-mm tissue culture flasks and incubated for 1 h in 2 ml Sf900-II SFM (Life Technologies) without antibiotics to allow adhesion of the cells to the dish. The medium was then changed to 1 ml serum-free Sf900-II without antibiotics, containing recombinant bacmid DNA (5 μl of a standard mini-preparation of plasmid DNA) that had been pre-incubated for 30 min at room temperature with CellFectin (6 μl) (Life Technologies). Cells were incubated with the liposome-DNA complex at 27° C. for 5 h. The transfection medium was removed and 2 ml of SF900-II medium, containing antibiotics, was added. pENT™/Man plasmid was transfected into Sf9 cells and nonrecombinant bacmid (Bd) DNA and pPENT™/CAT were used as, respectively, negative and positive controls. Transfected cells were incubated at 27° C. for 72 h allowing baculovirus production and release into the culture medium. The culture medium from each transfection was collected, clarified (500 g for 5 min), and stored at 4° C. as a master virus stock. Transfection efficiency, recombinant baculovirus (By-Man) and nonrecombinant baculovirus (By) production were monitored by visualization of the cytopathic effect displayed by transfected cells within 48 h after subculturing under a phase contrast microscope and assaying the presence of baculovirus DNA through PCR analysis. To this end, baculovirus present in 50 μl of infected culture supernatant was sedimented at 12 000 g for 10 min in a microcentrifuge tube, and a volume (25 μl) of proteinase K buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.8; 5 mM EDTA; 0.5% SDS) containing 50 μg/ml of proteinase K (Sambrook et al., 1989) was added to the pellet to digest viral proteins for 1 h at 56° C. An additional heating at 95° C. for 20 min was included in order to inactivate the enzyme before proceeding to the PCR step. Viral DNA amplification was carried out using 2 μl of this DNA preparation as the template at the same conditions and primers described above. The cells were selected with ganciclovir for 120 hours, and the resulting viral stock was amplified twice by infecting the Sf9 cells.

Amplification of Baculovirus Stocks

For amplification of the baculovirus master stocks, 1×10⁶ Sf9 cells were plated in a 25-cm² flask and incubated for 1 h with 10 μl of baculovirus master stock in 1 ml of SF900-II medium containing antibiotics (corresponding to an MOI of 0.01-0.1). After this period, the medium was completed to 4.5 ml and the infected cells were incubated for 48 h at 27° C. The culture medium was collected, clarified (500 g for 5 min), and stored at 4° C. as viral stocks for recombinant protein production.

Scale up Production of Recombinant β-Mannanase

Cells of S. frugiperta were plated in a 225 cm² with 50 ml of culture medium and incubated as above. Cells were transfected at log phase using 500 μL of a viral stock P3 (titer 3.44×10⁶ pfu/ml). After 96 hours, the culture medium was collected, clarified (500 g for 5 min), and the recombinant β-mannanase was purified using the MagneHis System® (Promega, Madison, Wis.). This resulted in the production of 2.4 mg of purified β-mannanase per 100 ml of culture.

Example 3 Purification of Recombinant β-Mannanase

MagneHis Ni-Particles® (Promega, Madison, Wis.) pull-down assays were performed according to the manufacturer's protocol. Briefly, 10 ml of culture medium after removing cells was mixed with 300 μl of MagneHis Ni-Particles and incubated at room temperature for 2 min with gentle shaking. After incubation, the tube was placed in a magnetic stand for 30 seconds to allow the MagneHis Ni-Particles® to be captured by the magnet, and the supernatant was removed. The MagneHis Ni-Particles were washed three times with the binding/wash buffer. Pure β-mannanase-6×His-tagged protein was subjected to SDS/PAGE (FIG. 1) and functional assay (FIG. 2).

Example 4 Determination of Enzyme Activity Using β-Galactomannans from Carob Tree Seeds

Azurine-crosslinked-Galactomannan was prepared by dyeing and crosslinking galactomannan polysaccharide extracted from carob seed flour (AZCL-galactomannan®; Megazyme International Ireland Ltd.). The Carob tree, Ceratonia siliqua, is an evergreen shrub or tree, native to the Mediterranean region, cultivated for its edible seed pods. This substrate is insoluble in buffered solutions, but rapidly hydrates to form gel particles which are readily and rapidly hydrolysed by specific endo-hydrolases releasing soluble dye-labeled fragments according to Marraccini et al., “Molecular and Biochemical Characterization of ENDO-β-MANNANASEs from Germinating Coffee (Coffea arabica) Grains,” Planta 213:296-308 (2001), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. An aliquot of 20 μL of the recombinant β-mannanase-6×His-tagged protein mixed in substrate solution [1% (w/v) AZCL-Galactomannan® in 0.2 M acetate buffer (pH 5.0)] was incubated at 37° C. with gentle shaking. Aliquots of 200 μL were removed every 30 min and heated at 1001° C. for 5 min to stop the reaction. Each aliquot was centrifuged at 13 k rpm for 5 min and the absorbance was measured at λ₅₉₅ nm (FIG. 2).

Example 5 Determination of Enzyme Activity Using β-Galactomannan from Coffee Beans

Coffee β-Galactomannan Purification

A sequential fractionation procedure based on a delignification treatment, an acid wash, and subsequent alkali extraction (as in Bradbury et al., “Chemical Structures of Green Coffee Bean Polysaccharides,” J. Agric. Food Chem. 38:389-392 (1990), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety) was used to isolate pure β-mannan from green coffee beans. Ground green Coffea arabica coffee beans were Soxhlet-extracted with chloroform/methanol (2:1) and petroleum ether (5 h) to remove lipids and with aqueous ethanol (95%, overnight) to remove low molecular weight carbohydrate. Defatted beans were hot water extracted and then delignified with weakly acidic sodium chloride solution, according to the method of Wolfrom and Patin, “Carbohydrates of the Coffee Bean. IV. An Arabinogalactan,” J. Org. Chem. 30:4060-4063 (1965), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, to give a white holocellulose product. Most of the arabinogalactan polymer was solubilized, in a partially hydrolyzed form, by washing with dilute hydrochloric acid (1%, 80° C.). The mannan was then isolated in discrete fractions by extraction (overnight, 4° C.) with 2.5 and 10% sodium hydroxide solutions. Addition of ethanol to the 2.5% NaOH extracts led to a precipitate containing arabinogalactan and mannan. Neutralization of the 10% NaOH extracts led to rapid formation of a white precipitate, which was removed by filtration after the mixture was allowed to stand overnight at 4° C. A further fraction was obtained by addition of ethanol to the filtrate. The precipitates were all washed with ethanol and diethyl ether before drying. The mannan substrate used in this work was the fraction precipitated by neutralization of the 10% NaOH extracts, which contained 94% mannan by weight.

Effect of pH and Temperature on the Activity of the Recombinant β-Mannanase from H. hampei

In order to test enzyme activity against coffee galactomannans, the β-mannanase activity was determined by the dinitrosalicylic acid assay of Bernfeld, P. In: Collowick S. P. and Kaplan N. O. (eds.), Methods in Enzymology, Vol. I, Academic Press, New York, pp. 149-158 (1955), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The optimal pH of the enzyme activity against coffee galactomannan was determined at different pH values ranging from 4.0 to 11.0. The buffer was 200 mM sodium-acetate and 100 mM Sodium chloride at 37° C. The highest enzyme activity was observed at pH 6.0 (FIG. 3). The effect of temperature on activity of the recombinant β-mannanase against coffee galactomannan was examined in the temperature range of 15° C. to 70° C. using the same buffer at pH 6.0 (FIG. 4). The enzyme showed maximum activity around 50° C. The activity of the enzyme decreased sharply with further increases in temperature.

Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration, it is understood that such detail is solely for that purpose, and variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is defined by the following claims. 

1. An isolated polynucleotide encoding a β-mannanase protein having an amino acid sequence which is at least 95% similar to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 2. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein the polynucleotide encodes a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 3. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein the polynucleotide has the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 2. 4. An isolated expression system containing the polynucleotide of claim
 1. 5. An isolated host cell containing the polynucleotide of claim
 1. 6. The host cell of claim 5, wherein the host cell is a bacterial cell.
 7. A method of recombinantly producing β-mannanase protein, said method comprising: providing the host cell of claim 5; culturing the host cell under conditions effective for the host cell to express β-mannanase protein; and recovering the β-mannanase protein.
 8. The host cell of claim 5, wherein the host cell is a eukaryotic cell.
 9. The host cell of claim 8, wherein the eukaryotic cell is selected from the group consisting of plant cells, fungal cells and insect cells. 